Portable well servicing equipment



Jan. 5, 1954 H. J. WOOLSLAYER ET L PORTABLE WELL SERVICING EQUIPMENT Filed NOV. 20, 1952 16 mm? .1 emu.

JUNK/NS,

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS n YER,

Cantu: D. lo 011v Patented Jan. 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE WELL SERVICING EQUIPMENT Pennsylvania Application November 20, 1952, Serial No. 321,546

This invention relates to a well servicing mast mounted on a vehicle, and more particularly to a mast that can be raised and lowered.

It is highly desirable to be able to transport well servicing masts easily from one location to another and to readily raise and lower them with a minimum of time and effort. Although it also is desirable to make the mast as tall as possible, the height is restricted by the distance that the mast, when collapsed and reclining on a truck, can safely project endways from the truck. In the past it has often been the practice to hinge the lower end of the mast to the rear end of the vehicle so that the other end of the mast, when reclining, will project ahead of the truck. The

length of the mast thus has been limited to the length of the vehicle plus the distance that it has been feasible for the mast to project ahead of it.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide portable well servicing equipment in which the reclining mast can project from both ends of the vehicle, with the result that considerably taller masts can be used than heretofore or masts can be carried with less projection, and in which the mast can be raised and lowered quickly and easily by means of a utility winch. Another object is to provide a new method of raising and lowering such a mast.

In accordance with this invention the mast is formed from two sections that are hinged together end to end. The lower section is much shorter than the taller section. When the mast is reclining on the vehicle that supports it the two sections of the mast are folded, one on top of the other and extend lengthwise of the vehicle. The upper mast section projects several feet from both ends of the vehicle, and the lower section is below the projecting rear end of the upper section and has its front end pivotally supported on the rear end of the vehicle. A reclining telescoping brace has its rear end pivotally connected to the rear end of either of the mast sections. A folded lifting toggle brace reclines above the vehicle and is formed from two super-imposed links having their front ends connected by hinging means. Means mounted on the vehicle in front of the lower mast section pivotally support the rear end of the lower link as well as the front end of the telescoping brace. The rear end of the upper link is pivotally connected to the upper mast section. A sheave is carried by the rear end of one of the mast sections, and a winch is mounted on the vehicle. A raising line is connected with the tog gle brace near its hinge connection and extends rearwardly around the sheave and then forward to the winch. Consequently, when the line is reeled in by the winch it will swing the lower mast section andthe upper toggle link forwardand upward to raise the reclining upper section to a higher elevation while simultaneously telescoping the telescoping brace, and then will straighten 6 Claims. (Cl. 18911) the toggle brace in order to swing the upper section of the mast upward and rearward to upright position on the lower section. Preferably, a pair of parallel abutting plates are fastened to the adjoining link ends of the straightened toggle brace and project forward'from them. These plates limit the rearward movement of the brace and can be bolted together to lock the brace in straight position. i

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of our well-servicing equipment ready for the road;

Fig. 2 is a schematic side view showing the mast partly raised;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view showing the raised mast;

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the vehicle showing the raised mast; and

Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line V-V of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, a platform I is rigidly mounted on the frame of a truck 2 over its rear wheels. Mounted on this platform is a superstructure A having front posts 3 near the middle of the platform and rear posts 4 at its outer or rear end. All references herein to front and rear relate to the front and rear ends of the truck. The front and rear posts of the superstructure are connected by substantially horizontal spreaders 6. The superstructure also includes intermediate posts 1 that extend above the spreaders and have their upper ends braced by inclined braces 8 and 9.

This superstructure supports a collapsible or folding mast formed from a rather short lower section B and a much longer upper section C. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, where the mast is shown upright, the lower section is formed from a pair of parallel legs ll connected by horizontal and diagonal braces l2 and 13. The lower ends of the legs are pivotally mounted in shoes [4 on top of rear superstructure posts 4. The upper ends of these legs are connected by hinges Hi to the lower ends of the opposite sides of the upper section of the mast. Behind these hinges there is a heavy cross member ll (Fig. 4) from the opposite ends of which trunnions l8 project. The cross member preferably is connected to the upper mast section. Pivotally mounted on each of the trunnions l8'is the upper end of the inner member IQ of a telescoping brace D that has a tubular lower member 20 in which the upper member can slide when the brace is not fully telescoped and locked by a pin 2| extending through the lower ends of the two brace members. The

lower end of the tubular member is pivotally connected to a bracket 22, preferably mounted on the lower portion of a lifting toggle brace E. The locked telescoped braces D hold the lower section B of the mast upright on superstructure A.

and 26, as shown in Fig. 5, that have their ad joining ends connected by hin'g'es fl. Thelower' end of the lower link 25 is pivotally supported in brackets 28 mounted on ienjr rs per== structure A. The upper linkf26strad'dles'thefupE' per section of the mast and 'piv'f otally connected to opposite sides of the mast by pins 29. The toggle brace can be locked in straight position by bolts 3| extendingthrougli abufiting plates 32 projecting forward from hinges 21. E'hese plates also keep the connected ends of the links from moving toward the mast from the straight iin pesmo 'snewn'm Fig. 3.

Mounted on the tr ck'is a conventional utility winch 34', bywhich the mast is lowered and raised. The'winch'is'connectdto' one end of a line or light cable 35 that extendsha'ckmostor thg'way through platfo'finl and then "up around a sheave 38 joiirnal'ed in the'platform 'n'ear on'e'side' Above the platform thecabl'e' extends" up across the front of a sheave 31 (Fig. 4) journale'd' a bracket 38 mumm es the upper end of one of the superstructure intermediate posts 1, marten up around the back of a sheave 39 journaledon the trunnion laabt've. Fre'rn this sheave the cable extends forward a'n'daieunda. sheave 4] carried by' a bracket thatis'pivotally siip'pbrted by one side of the lower toggle link 25. This bracket is spaced bya horizontal strut 43 from a similar bracket 44 pivotally connected to the otherside of the same toggle linkand carrying a sheave 45 The cable extends along the strut and around this'la'st' sheave, and then backward and down 'over a sheave 41 mounted on the other trunnion 13. From there the'cable extends down to a cle'vis 48 pivotallfy connected to" an' anchor member 49 on top 'of' intermediate post' 1 below sheave '41. I e I When it is desired toIdwei-the m st, bolts 3| are removed, cable '35 is hatred of a'little' and then a line 5|connected'withtheupper end of the lower toggle link'lids'pulledby a small hand winch 52 mounted on the front 'end of the as shown in Fig; 1 p'ulls toggle hinges 21 r rward to break the toggle -join't, whereupon-the weight of the upper section o'fthernast tensions cable 35 by which themast'isfkcptfMm falling. The winch 34" then" is" operated 'to pay dutflth cable in order to permittheuppensectio'filc or the mast to swing downwardfon hinges I'BI'to a reclining position, su'chas' 'sh'o'wnin' Fig. '2. In this position'the uppersec'tiori'of'thehiast is sup ported by'the lower section Band meter-er link 26 (if the'paltly fpl'dedloggle b iace: The lower link has swung liorwa'rda'nddbwnuntil it rests on 'a crossbar 'sa'suspb'rted above'the c'a'b frame by an A frar'n'e' '54,;asshown'm Fig. 11

The telescoping brace locking pins 'zlthe'nare removed from the lower 'ends'of braces nartei which cable3 5 is let disseminate. Thed istl fib'u tionof'weight of the n'ias't'is such thatthe lower section of the mast will swing backward and down in slices M andwmiengtnen the telescoping braces. This lowers the rear end'of-the reclining upper section of the mast and simultaneously permits easel-"1111x26 or the toggle brace to swing backward anddo'w'n on hinges 2-1 so that th lippersectiori of the mast is lowered into substantially horizontal'posit ioii 'a'sshown in Fig l. The mast" andthetoggle braceareiully folded aiiddo not extend above a' safe height for transportation. It will be seen that the entire 4 lower section B of the' mast projects 'from the rear end of thetr'uck'j and that a' corresponding length of the upper section C likewise projects in the same direction. The other end of the upper section' projects from the front end of the truck.

Consequently, the mast can be made considerably lo lig'er'than the truck and yet not project an undes rsme distance from either end.

When it is desired to raise the mast from the transportation position of Fig. 1, the lowering procedure just described is reversed, except that thetog'gle 'breaking line 5| and hand winch 52 are not used. Thus, when winch 34 reels in the lifting cable 35, the reclining lower section B of the mast is swung upward and forward to upright position, asshown in Fig. 2. This raises 'the'lower or'rear end of the reclining upper section of the mast to a higher level and simultaneously swings the upper link'ifi'of toggl'eb'r'ace E upward and "forwardfto likewise'raise the front end of the upper section to approximately the same higher elevation. During this initial movement the telescoping braces D are telescop'ed together, and thenlockin'g pins 2| are inserted to hold them tel'e'sc'op'ed so' that they will brace the upright lowerma st section rigidly. Further're'elin'gin or" the cable pulls the hinged central portion of the toggle br'ace upward andrearward and thereby straightens the brace. Straightening of this bi'acecauses it to swing the" upper section of "the mastu'pward' and rearward to upright position'on top "of the upright lower section, as shown in Fig. 3. Movement of the toggle brace hinges toward the mastis'lil'ni'ted b'y the'corning together of abutment plates 32, which then' can be bolted togfethe'r as an additional precaution against the brace 'swing'ing'aw'ay from them'a'st in case there is sla'ck'in cable '35;

An advantage of raising the mast in this manner'isthatasmall wi'n'ch can b'e-used because the mast is raised a section a't'a time.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, we have explained the principle of our invention and have illustrated and described what we'now consider" to represent its best embodimen't. However, we' desire to have it"unclerstood that; within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be' practiced'otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described 1. Portable well servicing equipment-comprisa' vehicle; a reclining 'u'pper' 'm'astsection above the'fvehicle'extendinglengthwisethereof and projecting'fi'o'lnboth ehds ofit, the'rear end of said section -b'einga'djacentth'e rear end of the vehicle, a reensingiower mast section below the project- 'irigr'ea're'ndo'f ssm'upp'e'r' section-with the rear ends or said sections hinged together, means Ir'ibiint'ed on therear end of the vehicle pivotally -front end of said-lower section, a recliningtelescoping brace having its rear end pivotallyconnected to' the rear endofone of said mast sectio'ns, a-folded lifting toggle brace reclining above the vehicle and formedfroni' two superimposed'liriks having their frontends connected byhinging means, means mounted on the vehicle in front of'said'first supporting :means pzivotallysupporting the rear end of the lower link and the front end of thetelescoping brace, the rear end of the upper link being pivotally connected-to the upper mast section, a sheave carried by the-rear end of one of said sections, a winch on the vehicle, andaraising lineconnected with the toggle bracenear its hinging-nieans' and extending rearwardly around said sheave and then forward to said winch, whereby when the line is reeled in by the winch it will swing said lower mast section and the upper toggle link forward and upward to raise the reclining upper mast section to a higher elevation and simultaneously telescope the telescoping brace and then will straighten the toggle brace in order to swing said upper section upward and rearward to upright position on said lower section.

2. Portable well servicing equipment in accordance with claim 1, wherein detachable means is provided for holding the telescoped telescoping brace telescoped.

3. Portable well servicing equipment in accordance with claim 1, wherein said links are wide, the upper link straddles the upper mast section, and the pivotal connection of the upper link to the upper mast section is at opposite sides of that section.

4. Portable well servicing equipment comprising a vehicle, a reclining upper mast section above the vehicle extending lengthwise thereof and projecting from both ends of it, the rear end of said section being adjacent the rear end of the vehicle, a reclining lower mast section below the projecting rear end of said upper section with the rear ends of said sections hinged together, means mounted on the rear end of the vehicle pivotally supporting the front end of said lower section, a reclining telescoping brace having its rear end pivotally connected to the rear end of one of said mast sections, a folded lifting toggle brace reclining above the vehicle and formed from two superimposed links having their front ends connected by hinging means, means mounted on the vehicle in front of said first supporting means pivotally supporting the rear end of the lower link and the front end of the telescoping brace, the rear end of the upper link being pivotally connected to the upper mast section, a sheave carried by the rear end of one of said sections, a second sheave located adjacent the front end of said lower section, means mounted on the vehicle supporting said second sheave, a winch on the vehicle, and a raising line connected with the toggle brace near its hinging means and extending rearwardly around the first sheave and then forward and down around said second sheave to said winch, whereby when the line is reeled in by the winch it will swing said lower mast section and the upper toggle link forward and upward to raise the reclining upper mast section to a higher elevation and simultaneously telescope the telescoping brace and then will straighten the toggle brace in order to swing said upper section upward and rearward to upright position on said lower section.

5. Portable well servicing equipment comprising a vehicle, a reclining upper mast section above the vehicle extending lengthwise thereof and projecting from both ends of it, the rear end of said section being adjacent the rear end of the vehicle, a reclining lower mast section below the projecting rear end of said upper section with the rear ends of said sections hinged together, means mounted on the rear end of the vehicle pivotally supporting the front end of said lower section, a reclining telescoping brace having its rear end pivotally connected to the rear end of one of said mast sections, a folded lifting toggle brace reclining above the vehicle and formed from two superimposed links having their front ends connected by hinging means, means mounted on the vehicle in front of said first support-- ing means pivotally supporting the rear end of the lower link and the front end of the telescoping brace, the rear end of the upper link being pivotally connected to the upper mast sec tion, a pair of sheaves mounted at the rear ends of said mast sections, a sheave carried by the toggle brace near its hinging means, an anchor member mounted on the vehicle, a winch on the vehicle, and a raising line anchored to said anchor member and extending rearwardly around one of said mast sheaves and then forward around said brace sheave and back around the other mast sheave to the winch, whereby when the line is reeled in by the winch it will swing said lower mast section and the upper toggle link forward and upward to raise the reclining upper mast section to a higher elevation and simultaneously telescope the telescoping brace and then will straighten the toggle brace in order to swing said upper section upward and rearward to upright position on said lower section.

6. Portable well servicing equipment comprising a vehicle, a reclining upper mast section above the vehicle extending lengthwise thereof and projecting from both ends of it, the rear end of said section being adjacent the rear end of the vehicle, a reclining lower mast section be low the projecting rear end of said upper section with the rear ends of said sections hinged together, means mounted on the rear end of the vehicle pivotally supporting the front end of said lower section, a reclining telescoping brace having its rear end pivotally connected to the rear end of one of said mast sections, a folded lifting toggle brace reclining above the vehicle and formed from two superimposed wide links having their front ends connected by hinging means, means mounted on the vehicle in front of said first supporting means pivotally supporting the rear end of the lower link and the front end of the telescoping brace, the upper link straddling the upper mast section and having its rear end pivotally connected to the opposite sides of that section, a pair of brackets pivotally connected to the opposite sides of the front end of one of said links, a sheave journaled in each bracket, a pair of sheaves mounted at the opposite sides of the rearend of a mast section, an anchor member on the vehicle, a winch on the vehicle, and a raising line fastened to said anchor member and extending rearwardly around one of said mast sheaves and then forward along one side of the mast and around both brace sheaves and back along the opposite side of the mast and around the other mast sheave and forward again to the winch, whereby when the line is reeled in by the winch it will swing said lower mast section and the upper toggle link forward and upward to raise the reclining upper mast section to a higher elevation and simultaneously telescope the telescoping brace and then will straighten the toggle brace in order to swing said upper section upward and rearward to upright position on said lower section.

HOMER J. WOOLSLAYER. CECIL JENKINS. CHARLES D. IDDINGS. ERWIN A. CAMPBELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

